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Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Journal of neurophysiology

Active motor preparation drives corticospinal facilitation during interception planning

  • Justin R. McCurdy1,2
  • Brendan Jarvis1
  • Emma Whitman1
  • Krithi Ariga1
  • Asher Khan1
  • Deborah A. Barany1,2,3,4
4 affiliations
  1. 1Department of Kinesiology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States
  2. 2Neuroscience Program, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States
  3. 3Department of Interdisciplinary Biomedical Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States
  4. 4Regenerative Bioscience Center, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States
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Abstract

Intercepting a moving target requires integrating visual motion information with motor preparation, yet how active motor preparation and gaze strategy jointly shape corticospinal excitability during interception planning remains unclear. We applied single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation over primary motor cortex to probe corticospinal excitability while participants either prepared to intercept a moving target or passively viewed its motion. Targets moved at one of two speeds, and participants judged target speed relative to a reference after each trial. Across blocks, participants were instructed to either smoothly pursue the target or fixate their eyes on the interception zone. Motor-evoked potentials were elicited at baseline, after task instruction, early during target motion, or shortly before target arrival. Task and gaze strategy interacted to influence both perceptual judgments and corticospinal excitability. Preparing to intercept produced a robust facilitation of corticospinal excitability immediately before movement onset, regardless of gaze strategy. In contrast, corticospinal excitability during passive viewing did not differ from baseline. Smooth pursuit improved perceptual accuracy and reduced interception timing error compared with fixation but did not independently influence corticospinal facilitation. These findings demonstrate that active motor preparation is the primary determinant of the transition to a state of facilitated excitability during interception planning, whereas eye movements modulate perceptual estimates and support behavioral performance.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{mccurdy2026active,
  title = {{Active motor preparation drives corticospinal facilitation during interception planning}},
  author = {Justin R. McCurdy and Brendan Jarvis and Emma Whitman and Krithi Ariga and Asher Khan and Deborah A. Barany},
  journal = {Journal of neurophysiology},
  year = {2026},
  month = aug,
  doi = {10.1152/jn.00017.2026},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1152/jn.00017.2026},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Active motor preparation drives corticospinal facilitation during interception planning
AU  - Justin R. McCurdy
AU  - Brendan Jarvis
AU  - Emma Whitman
AU  - Krithi Ariga
AU  - Asher Khan
AU  - Deborah A. Barany
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/08/19
JO  - Journal of neurophysiology
DO  - 10.1152/jn.00017.2026
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1152/jn.00017.2026
AB  - Intercepting a moving target requires integrating visual motion information with motor preparation, yet how active motor preparation and gaze strategy jointly shape corticospinal excitability during interception planning remains unclear. We applied single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation over primary motor cortex to probe corticospinal excitability while participants either prepared to intercept a moving target or passively viewed its motion. Targets moved at one of two speeds, and participants judged target speed relative to a reference after each trial. Across blocks, participants were instructed to either smoothly pursue the target or fixate their eyes on the interception zone. Motor-evoked potentials were elicited at baseline, after task instruction, early during target motion, or shortly before target arrival. Task and gaze strategy interacted to influence both perceptual judgments and corticospinal excitability. Preparing to intercept produced a robust facilitation of corticospinal excitability immediately before movement onset, regardless of gaze strategy. In contrast, corticospinal excitability during passive viewing did not differ from baseline. Smooth pursuit improved perceptual accuracy and reduced interception timing error compared with fixation but did not independently influence corticospinal facilitation. These findings demonstrate that active motor preparation is the primary determinant of the transition to a state of facilitated excitability during interception planning, whereas eye movements modulate perceptual estimates and support behavioral performance.
SN  - 0022-3077
SN  - 1522-1598
ER  -